Day: December 17, 2015

‘In a report published today, we make recommendations to solve pressing problems that undermine the effectiveness of the law governing the acquisition and possession of firearms. The existing law is confused, unclear and difficult to apply. There are over 30 pieces of overlapping legislation, some of the key terminology – such as “lethal”, “component part” and “antique” – is not clearly defined, and the law has fallen out of step with developments in technology.’

‘MPs have voted to allow fracking for shale gas 1,200m below national parks and other protected sites. The new regulations – which permit drilling from outside the protected areas – were approved by 298 to 261.’

‘The relationship that the British security services forged with Muammar Gaddafi’s regime a decade ago amounted to “a criminal conspiracy with a foreign dictator”, according to evidence before the high court, where a dozen Libyan dissidents who were subsequently targeted by the British authorities are bringing a claim for damages.’

‘David Cameron is preparing to use the full force of the law to clip the wings of the House of Lords after it blocked his welfare cuts, the BBC has learned. A review will say peers should lose their absolute veto over detailed laws known as secondary legislation. Peers will instead be offered a new power to send these laws back to the Commons, forcing MPs to vote again – but will only be able to do this once.’

‘Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has admitted it was “frustrating” that the undercover officer who fatally shot a suspected gangster was not wearing a covert camera. He acknowledged that it would have been “really useful” in this case, to show exactly what had happened, but claimed there had been difficulties in finding technology that would be suitable for covert operations.’

‘A critical report calling for greater oversight of the Muslim Brotherhood is expected to be subject to a legal challenge by the Islamist movement after it is published on Thursday by the government. The long-awaited inquiry, ordered by David Cameron, into the Brotherhood’s operation in the UK is expected to include new curbs on the group and its associates in a move that will be presented by ministers as a crackdown on Islamism.’

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